The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the world to come to a standstill since its arrival in December 2019.
With a rapid rise in the number of cases of the virus around the world, lockdowns and other restrictions have been implemented in order to help combat the spread. With the number of cases steadily increasing, the race to find a vaccine has been a priority to bring the pandemic to an end. One of the approved vaccines so far is the Astrazeneca vaccine which has been developed by the University of Oxford and a global biopharmaceutical company, Astrazeneca.
The Astrazeneca vaccine has been proven to be effective in providing protection with a mild safety profile, but it is not suitable for everyone. There is a new variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine that is specifically designed for the South African population, which is particularly at risk as the country is facing its third wave of the pandemic.
What Does the South African Variant of the Astrazeneca Vaccine Look Like?
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine has been adapted to the country’s mutation of the virus. This is a significant development as the variant is made to protect against the Covid-19 strain that is prevalent in the country. The variant is particularly important to offer protection against the B.1.351 mutation, as well as other variants that might occur in the future. The original Astrazeneca vaccine offers a lower efficacy rate for the South African strain of the virus, so the adaptation of the South African variant boosts the vaccine’s ability to offer protection and reduce the rate of transmission in the country.
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine is administered in two doses. The vaccine contains a specific fragment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus: an adenovirus vector that has been modified to contain only the outer protein of the virus, referred to as the “spike” protein. This means that the vaccine is unable to cause Covid-19, but instead has been designed to give the body exposure to the spike protein and stimulate the body’s immunological response.
How Does it Differ From the Regular Astrazeneca Vaccine?
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine has been adapted to the country’s mutation of the virus and has an increased efficacy rate compared to the regular Astrazeneca vaccine. The South African vaccination is specifically designed to protect against the B.1.351 mutation, and other variants that might occur. This means that the South African variant has much higher effectiveness against the B.1.351 strain of the virus.
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine is also different from the regular vaccine in terms of how it is administered. The South African variant is administered in two doses, with a gap of 28 days between them, whereas the regular Astrazeneca vaccine is given in two doses with a gap of 12 weeks. This means that the South African variant can offer a much faster immunisation process than the regular Astrazeneca vaccine.
What are the Benefits of the South African Variant?
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine offers a number of benefits, which are outlined below.
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Higher Efficacy Rates: The variant has been designed specifically to protect against the B.1.351 mutation, and as a result it offers a much higher efficacy rate against the strain compared to the regular Astrazeneca vaccine. This means that the South African variant can offer better protection against the strain of Covid-19 that is prevalent in the country.
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Faster Immunisation Process: The South African variant of the vaccine is administered in two doses with a gap of 28 days between them, whereas the regular vaccine is given with a gap of 12 weeks. This means that people in South Africa can be immunised much faster as the gap between doses is much shorter than the regular Astrazeneca vaccine.
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Improved Protection for the Population: The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine is designed to offer better protection against the strain of the virus that is prevalent in the country. This means that the variant can improve the overall protection that can be offered to the South African population.
Safety and Side Effects of the South African Variant of the Astrazeneca Vaccine
The safety profile of the South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine is similar to that of the original Astrazeneca vaccine, and it has been approved for use in the country. The vaccine has been tested in clinical trials and has been found to be safe and to provide protection against the B.1.351 strain of the virus.
As with any vaccine, there are some potential mild to moderate side effects associated with the South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine. These can include muscle pain, tiredness, fever, nausea and headaches. In a very small number of cases, blood clots have been reported, although this is not a common side effect.
Summary of the South African Variant of the Astrazeneca Vaccine
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine has been designed specifically to protect against the mutation of the virus that is prevalent in the country. It has been adapted to offer greater protection against the B.1.351 strain of Covid-19, and it has been found to be safe and to provide protection against the strain. The vaccine is administered in two doses with a gap of 28 days between them and is able to offer a much faster immunisation process than the regular Astrazeneca vaccine. The side effects associated with the South African variant of the vaccine are similar to those of the Astrazeneca vaccine and are generally mild to moderate.
The South African variant of the Astrazeneca vaccine is a necessary adaptation of the regular Astrazeneca vaccine to offer protection against the strain of Covid-19 that is prevalent in South Africa. It has been tested in clinical trials and has been found to be safe and to provide protection against the B.1.351 strain of the virus. The South African variant is administered in two doses with a gap of 28 days between them and is able to provide a much faster immunisation process than the regular Astrazeneca vaccine. Although there can be some mild to moderate side effects associated with the vaccine, they are generally well tolerated.
